Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building Inspections Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Swain County approves higher building inspection fees to boost revenue
Summary
Commissioners unanimously approved a revised inspections fee schedule, including raising the one-trip inspection fee from $80 to $100, to better align with neighboring counties and offset inspection program costs.
The Swain County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a new building inspection fee schedule on April 15 aimed at generating additional revenue for inspection operations.
Jason, a member of the county inspections staff, told the board the proposed changes were intended to “maybe generate a little more revenue, maybe help out the county a little bit.” Commissioners and inspection staff described the new schedule as broadly in line with nearby counties while noting local variations such as some counties’ flat administrative fees.
Staff said the county’s approach keeps permit administrative costs lower for applicants by not collecting the administrative fee until a permit is signed for and picked up. Commissioners and inspection staff said the county also increased a common single-visit fee from $80 to $100 to reflect travel time and rising costs for inspectors.
The board noted that some neighboring counties have flat administrative fees (the transcript referenced examples such as Cherokee, Jackson and Graham counties), and that travel time for inspectors in a geographically large rural county contributes to cost. After a motion and second, the fee schedule passed unanimously.
